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Rama Bijapurkar on the flight of Non-Returning Indians (NRIs): Cause for celebration or concern?

Mint

6 days ago

Business
Mint

Rama Bijapurkar on the flight of Non-Returning Indians (NRIs): Cause for celebration or concern?

Next Story Business News/ Opinion / Views/ Rama Bijapurkar on the flight of Non-Returning Indians (NRIs): Cause for celebration or concern? Rama Bijapurkar Sanjaya Baru's new book—'Secession of the Successful: The Flight out of New India'—cracks open a crucial debate on whether the latest wave of out-migration is doing the country any good. There is a need for a serious debate on what the consequences of the 'secession of the successful' will be and how to mitigate it. Gift this article Before and after 1991, the way we think about certain phenomena has dramatically changed. 'Household consumption' is a phenomenon that went from being whipping boy to valued driver of economic growth and foreign direct investment. Before and after 1991, the way we think about certain phenomena has dramatically changed. 'Household consumption' is a phenomenon that went from being whipping boy to valued driver of economic growth and foreign direct investment. Out-migration by Indians is another. It has gone from the despair of 'brain drain' to the delight of 'diaspora,' and those who migrated have gone from being seen as deserters of the motherland to global ambassadors of brand India. 'Diaspora,' a word that is infused with positive meaning, represents our pride and joy at our visible presence in the world, especially the developed world. The fact that Indians get more H1-B visas than almost everyone else in the world is seen as a badge of honour, a testimonial to how sought-after our talent is. Post the infotech boom, when our educated, tech-savvy youngsters fanned out to live all over the world, the oft-repeated sentiment of Indians was one of relief that the image of India in the eyes of the world has zoomed upwards. Products of top Indian colleges, they proved their mettle, stayed on in the international circuit and have risen to top jobs around the world. One does not need to name the many poster boys and girls of this phenomenon. They are well known and well celebrated in India. The arts and all branches of academia also have had their fair share of Indian exported glitterati and we have also embraced the likes of Rishi Sunak and Kamala Harris as our own—'of Indian origin' being the expanded definition of our diaspora . Against this backdrop comes a new book by the astute thinker and writer Sanjaya Baru, arguing that our celebration needs a reality check and harder questions need to be asked. Provocatively titled Secession of the Successful: The Flight out of New India, it reframes the issues of migration, global citizenship and our image-enhancing, money-remitting diaspora. Baru discusses the four phases of migration that India has had, the present phase being the one that he feels we should worry about the most. The first phase he describes as enforced migration of indentured labour from interior India to scattered remote locations around the world from the mid-19th to the mid-20th century. Amitava Ghosh fans will know this story well. The second wave of out-migration, he says, mimicked the first in many ways, and was of semi-skilled workers to the Gulf and West Asia; both waves being people in search of better living conditions. Although, the popular refrain we have heard from Indian migrants to the Gulf is that they endured worse living conditions in order to make a lot of money so that they could return to a better life back home. The third phase of the 1990s and early 2000s he describes as the large-scale migration of qualified professionals, doctors and engineers, inspiring new phrases like 'knowledge worker' and 'elite migration.' The fourth and most recent wave, which he dates to 2010 onwards, is the migration of the wealthy and high net worth individuals, the 'country's power elites." While the first and second waves of migration were benign or positive for the Indian economy, the third and fourth waves are a drain of brain and wealth; and should ring alarm bells. He analyses the implications for India's progress and asserts that the benefit of soft power gained is not a good enough compensation for what is lost. Why our elites are leaving is an interesting question. Baru says it is taxes and governance. Could it be that they merely have multiple homes around the world, including in India, and shop for the best tax deals? Is this the new world in which home is where the heart is at the moment, as Mira Nair said when an interviewer asked her which of the many countries she lives in does she consider 'home.' As we speak, in the UK too, there is a vigorous discussion on what the Times calls the 'wealth exodus." It says that the 'exodus of wealth from Britain has accelerated since the turn of the year, fuelling fears that the abolition of the non domiciled tax regime will wipe out billions of pounds from the economy." Perhaps it is the nature of the wealthy to choose wealth preservation over home nation love. The UK is mulling over a 'concierge service' to attract companies and their talent to the UK. William Hague, a politician who is currently Chancellor of Oxford University, writes in response that for the wealthy to give up Dubai or Monaco and stay to pay inheritance tax on their worldwide assets would need 'the most extraordinary concierge service the world has ever seen." Perhaps India should institute a concierge service for startups so that our expanding number of unicorns can be registered here and attract foreign capital, instead of being registered abroad and creating wealth outside the country by serving the Indian market. Also read: Why are the rich leaving India? Whatever the argument, Baru's book points to the need for a serious debate on what the consequences of the 'secession of the successful' will be and how we need to mitigate it. The author is a business advisor. Topics You May Be Interested In Catch all the Business News, Market News, Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.

Govt to track children for obesity with new metric

Mint

30-06-2025

Health
Mint

Govt to track children for obesity with new metric

Next Story Business News/ News / Govt to track children for obesity with new metric Priyanka Sharma The number of overweight and obese adults in India is expected to rise from 180 million in 2021 to an 449 million by 2050. A 2025 Lancet obesity forecasting study projects a staggering rise in overweight and obese adults in India. Gift this article New Delhi: India plans to roll-out a nationwide screening programme for measuring obesity among school children officials aware of the matter said. New Delhi: India plans to roll-out a nationwide screening programme for measuring obesity among school children officials aware of the matter said. Children will be measured for their waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)—a body fat distribution metric calculated by dividing the waist circumference with the hip circumference. This key metric will be in addition to screening school children for their Body Mass Index (BMI), as part of a plan to prevent India from becoming home to the third-highest global obese population by 2050, after the US and China. A 2025 Lancet obesity forecasting study projects a staggering rise in overweight and obese adults in India from 180 million in 2021 to an estimated 449 million by 2050. In March, a government release highlighted that India already ranks second globally in childhood obesity, with over 14 million children affected. The development comes in the backdrop of growing concerns about youth obesity, with the education ministry communicating this plan to the health ministry for analyzing the outcomes to make necessary policy interventions. With one in five adults in urban areas being overweight or obese, the study aims to check the health hazard before it turns into an epidemic. 'Increased waist and hip ratio in children increases the risk of metabolic activities in children and type-2 diabetes later in life. During childhood they may or may not have indicators of metabolic syndrome but the risk increases significantly in these children in adulthood," said Dr N.K. Arora, senior paediatrician who is the President of AIIMS Deoghar. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines obesity as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that poses a health risk, leading to serious non-communicable diseases like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and mental health issues. It also carries a substantial economic burden due to increased healthcare costs and reduced productivity. 'School children are often screened for classic BMI standards. So, now, during this screening BMI, waist to hip ratio will also be screened for kids which is a more accurate assessment. Especially for the Indian population, where an "oversized waist" is a common concern," said the official aware of the plan. "It has been found in India that the waist is mostly oversized in the population. So, waist-to-hip ratio is more indicative to diagnose obesity." "The immediate focus is on controlling childhood obesity and finding effective solutions," another official said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in January 2025, urged citizens to adopt active and healthy lifestyles and called for a 10% reduction in oil consumption. Last week, Union health secretary Punya Salila Srivastava in a letter proposed that all ministries and government departments display "sugar and oil boards" and print health messages on official stationery to promote healthier dietary habits and physical activity in offices. Dr. Sanjeev Bagai, a senior pediatrician and chairman at Nephron Clinics, highlighted the dramatic increase in childhood obesity, from 4-5% to 20-25% in children aged 15-18 years over the last two decades. "BMI is not an accurate way of measuring obesity. We need a more detailed evaluation which will determine truncal obesity versus peripheral obesity, which means waist to hip ratio." Bagai emphasized comprehensive school screenings that include height, weight, hip-to-waist ratio, BMI, blood pressure, and urine routine. "Each school should be mandated to furnish the record and these children be identified, tracked and monitored." Furthermore, he stressed the importance of integrating nutrition and dietetics into the school curriculum, supervising school meals, and educating parents on healthy food choices for their children. Queries sent to the health ministry and education ministry spokespersons remained unanswered. Topics You May Be Interested In Stay updated with the latest Trending, India , World and United States news. Follow all the latest updates on Israel Iran Conflict here on Livemint.